“He has refused,” he said.  “We offered to create an office for Him; He was to have been called Consultor, and he refused it two hours ago.  But He has promised to be at our service....  No, I must not tell you where He is....  He will return to America soon, we think; but He will not leave us.  We have drawn up a programme, and it is to be sent to Him presently....  Yes, we were unanimous.”

“And the programme?”

“It concerns the Franchise, the Poor Laws and Trade.  I can tell you no more than that.  It was He who suggested the points.  But we are not sure if we understand Him yet.”

“But, my dear—–­”

“Yes; it is quite extraordinary.  I have never seen such things.  There was practically no argument.”

“Do the people understand?”

“I think so.  We shall have to guard against a reaction.  They say that the Catholics will be in danger.  There is an article this morning in the Era.  The proofs were sent to us for sanction.  It suggests that means must be taken to protect the Catholics.”

Mabel smiled.

“It is a strange irony,” he said.  “But they have a right to exist.  How far they have a right to share in the government is another matter.  That will come before us, I think, in a week or two.”

“Tell me more about Him.”

“There is really nothing to tell; we know nothing, except that He is the supreme force in the world.  France is in a ferment, and has offered him Dictatorship.  That, too, He has refused.  Germany has made the same proposal as ourselves; Italy, the same as France, with the title of Perpetual Tribune.  America has done nothing yet, and Spain is divided.”

“And the East?”

“The Emperor thanked Him; no more than that.”

Mabel drew a long breath, and stood looking out across the heat haze that was beginning to rise from the town beneath.  These were matters so vast that she could not take them in.  But to her imagination Europe lay like a busy hive, moving to and fro in the sunshine.  She saw the blue distance of France, the towns of Germany, the Alps, and beyond them the Pyrenees and sun-baked Spain; and all were intent on the same business, to capture if they could this astonishing figure that had risen over the world.  Sober England, too, was alight with zeal.  Each country desired nothing better than that this man should rule over them; and He had refused them all.

“He has refused them all!” she repeated breathlessly.

“Yes, all.  We think He may be waiting to hear from America.  He still holds office there, you know.”

“How old is He?”

“Not more than thirty-two or three.  He has only been in office a few months.  Before that He lived alone in Vermont.  Then He stood for the Senate; then He made a speech or two; then He was appointed delegate, though no one seems to have realised His power.  And the rest we know.”

Mabel shook her head meditatively.